Artificial fly



March 22, 1938. A. D. STODDARD 2,112,180

ARTIFICIAL FLY Filed Oct. 4, 1935 Invenloi .(1. ,E $7ada a7d I I g uw A ilorney Patented Mar. 22, 1938 ta-ms stares Parent amass 1 Claim.

My invention relates generally to artificial flies particularized for use by trout fishermen and particularly to artificial flies of the floating type,

and an important object of. the invention is to provide efficient yet inexpensive artificial files of the character indicated.

Another important object of my invention is to provide for the manufacture of artificial flies of the character indicated from materials not heretofore assembled in similar relationship, whereby the structure is simplified and the manufacturing steps reduced in number and expensiveness.

Another important object of my invention is to provide artificial flies of the character indicated and processes of manufacturing the same which involve the use of new and simple material and contemplate the utilization of commercially available hooks.

Other important objects of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description in connection with the drawing, wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown preferred. embodiments.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevatlonal view of one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cork body before deformation thereof.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through the undeformed cork body showing the applica- I tion of a hook thereto.

Figure 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 6 approximately on the line 'l--I, and looking toward the left. 1

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 5 generally designates a body of cork, plastic wood, or balsa wood, or a body composed of any or all of these substances, whereby the body is not only soft and compressible but floats easily on the surface of the water. In accordance with the present invention the floating body 5 has a flat tapering upper end portion 6 and has on its underside a longitudinal rearwardly deepening slot I which receives the hook 8 in the manner indicated in Figure 6.

The hook 8 is a standard commercially available type of hook and its shank portion and a part of the hook portion lying along and within the slot I so that the hook portion and the barb is located downwardly extending under the rear tapering portion 6 .of the body 5, while the eye 9 of the hook is downwardly bent as indicated in Figure 6 so as to depend from the front flat end i 0.02 the floatingbody 5, as clearly shown in Figure In accordance with the present invention silk thread or the equivalent is accurately wound around and about several longitudinally spaced points of the body 5 to produce a simulation in shape of the body of a fly or other similar insect. The body 5 being readily compressible, is easily deformed by tightly winding the thread or the equivalent to produce the thread formed indentations ll, l2, I3, l4, and; i5, or a greater or a less number of such indentations. It is obvious that the material of the body 5 bulges between the thread formed indentations in a curved manner.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 the closed wings 'I 6, of which there are two clearly indicated in Figure 2, and the legs I! may be of different materials such as squirrel tail, badger bristles, or other hair. When the wings and legs are wet and in the water they are transparent or semi-transparent under all conditions, and while the fly is floating on the water.

The wings it are formed by a bunch of the hairs described which are fastened by suitable pieces of cement l8 to the forward part of the body 5 just back of the thread deformation II which defines the head l9 and at the upper part of the sides thereof as clearly shown, so that the wings stream behind and extend backof the rear end of the body 5. A similar method of attaching the "legs" II by means of a blob of cement 20 also obtains.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4, the legs" l'la formed of hair gathered at the front end are fastened by a spot of cement 20a to the underside of the forward part of the body 5, while the laterally extending open wings 2| are produced by passing a bunch of long hairs transversely of the body 5 and through a slit 22 in the body made in the upper part thereof and extending from the head l9a and into the body 5.

It is obvious that the thread windings contract the body 5 around the shank of the hook 8 and lock the same firmly and immovably in place.

Coloring of the flies of the present invention may be secured by applying a base coloring of waterproof ink, and shades and blending further secured by applying color pigments, and then dipping the body in a color preservative, such as collodion, and the whole secured by the application of suitable varnish.

The legs and wings" and the thread windings are all secured by means of a waterproof cement, which is commercially obtainable.

It is obvious that almost unlimited variety of color and color combinations representing practically every known species of trout food of the fly family is available in accordance with the present invention.

Although I have shown and described herein preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the applicationof the invention thereto, and any change or changes may be made in the materials, and in the manner of assembling the same,

within the spirit cf the invention andthe scope of the subjoined claim.

What is claimed is:-

In an artificial iiy or fish bait and in combination, a body of compressible material having a longitudinal groove in its side increasing in depth toward the rear end of the body, a hook having its shank and the inner portion of its bill disposed in said slot, said inner portion of the bill being disposed in the deep end portion of the slot and backed by the adjacent portion of the body, and means surrounding and compressing the body.

ALEXANDER D. STODDARD. 

